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Henry County Medical Gives to Rhea Elementary Backpack Program

Henry County Medical Gives to Rhea Elementary Backpack Program

PARIS — Henry County Medical Center collected a total of $1,296.65 for the Rhea Elementary School Backpack Program during the first full week of December. The hospital encouraged each partner to donate to the Dollar Campaign with the tagline, “What if one dollar could feed a child this holiday season?” The money was then given to the Rhea Elementary School Backpack program to help purchase food to assist over the holiday season.

In America, one in six children may not know where their next meal may come from. The Rhea Elementary School Backpack Program helps to ensure that this statistic is reduced in Henry County by providing food for children who may not have access to regular, nutritious food during the weekends. Food is put into bags and discreetly placed into students’ backpacks for those needing extra food once they leave school. Every weekend, students in pre-K, Kindergarten and first grade, which is over 250 students, receive food from this program at $2.85 per meal. Over Christmas break, the program will send home roughly 600 bags of food. HCMC decided to try and raise funds so that the second graders could have the same food available to them as well.

“We appreciate the support from the community and HCMC,” says Allyson Palmer, Director of the Rhea Elementary School Backpack Program, “and we know the kids will benefit from the food that we send home this next week over Christmas break. We just enjoy knowing that such a simple thing that we can do each week makes such a big difference. ” A family of four facing hunger may be in need of 34 additional meals a month simply because they don’t have money to buy enough food. Henry County Medical Center is proud of its partners and their willingness to donate dollars that go towards supplying meals to help children and families in need within the community. The money collected from the hospital will fund about 450 meals for students. HCMC believes no child should go hungry during the holidays.

About Henry County Medical Center Located in Paris, Tennessee, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates eight provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www. hcmc-tn.org.